How can you celebrate National Women’s Small Business month? Spread the word! Make sure to frequent women-owned small businesses in your community and online this month. Small businesses are truly the backbone of America. By purchasing from women owned businesses, you’re helping to strengthen the economy and support a vital demographic. Additionally, follow the hashtag #NWSBM on Twitter and Instagram to discover who is sharing valuable information about this month and how you can contribute.

Fast Facts About Women Owned Businesses

Between 1997 and 2014, when the number of businesses in the United States increased by 47%, the number of women-owned firms increased by 68%—a rate 1½ times the national average.

More than 9.4 million firms are owned by women, employing nearly 7.9 million people, and generating $1.5 trillion in sales as of 2015.

Women-owned firms (51% or more) account for 31% of all privately held firms and contribute 14% of employment and 12% of revenues.

One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned.

As women-owned small businesses increase, support systems and networks will set the scene for future female entrepreneurs of all ages. At SmartBiz, we are thrilled to help successful female entrepreneurs secure funds they need to grow.

Smart, savvy and poised for professional growth, here are stories about two recent SmartBiz customers – women small business owners – who are busy expanding.

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Katie Basson has always been an entrepreneur at heart. Originally hired as the office manager for a promotional company, she soon moved up to sales and began forming strong business relationships. When the owner decided to move on, Basson wondered if she should look for a new job.

“A large customer said ‘We’ll be your first client’. I made the leap and now Birch Tree Productions is nearing its 10 year anniversary,” she says with pride. The company has had explosive growth and zoomed from 1 client to over 100. Basson started as a one-man-show but has built up her all-female staff to include one full time employee, two part time employees, a summer assistant and one team member very close to her heart, her mother.

As Birch Tree nears its 10-year anniversary, Basson says she wants to put in place long range planning to expand marketing and sales. “I want to spend less time juggling financially and put my energies into more meaningful growth and business expansion.”

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Laura Tabsharani is the founder of “Epic Global Talent “(EGT), a full-service talent, entertainment and marketing company located in Northern California that specializes in branding creative professionals. She works with clients in the entertainment industry who are pursuing acting, modeling, television, film, commercial, print, entrepreneurial branding and literary projects. EGT helps them get “agency ready”. Tabsharani is known for turning clients into media icons in order to monetize their talents on the global stage. “Our tag line is ‘Where your Legacy Begins’ and we truly do that for our clients,” she says.

Her agency is poised for big growth and exposure through the just launched “Epic Global Talent Search” set to roll out in 2017. The winners will have a unique opportunity to get career coaching from the best in the business. “The Bay Area – Northern California is full of many talented people and my hope is to have training locations in both northern and southern California where EGT winners can go.”

Laura is now revamping her website and will soon expand marketing and publicity to promote her agency’s talent search.

Her advice for other small business owners? “As long as you do the right thing with finances, your dreams can turn into reality.” She adds, “Taking the leap to become a women entrepreneur was not easy, but life is way better on the other side. Just do it!”

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Visit SmartBiz today and discover in about five minutes if you’re qualified for an SBA loan. Use the promo code “blog” and receive $500 off of your closing costs.